Certification is the highest level of evaluation by The Florida Bar of competency and experience within an area of law, and professionalism and ethics in practice. The Appellate Practice Section encourages attorneys to become Board Certified.
Appellate Practice is the practice of law dealing with the recognition and preservation of error committed by lower tribunals, and the presentation of argument concerning the presence or absence of such error to state or federal appellate courts through brief writing, writ and motion practice, and oral argument. Appellate practice includes evaluation and consultation regarding potential appellate issues or remedies in connection with proceedings in the lower tribunal prior to the initiation of the appellate process.
Board certified attorneys are the only Florida lawyers allowed to identify themselves as “specialists” or “experts” or to use the letters “B.C.S.” to indicate Board Certified Specialist when referring to their legal credentials.
Board certification is The Florida Bar’s highest evaluation of attorneys’ competency, experience and professionalism in areas of law approved for specialization by the Supreme Court of Florida.
Board certified lawyers are legal experts dedicated to professional excellence, and attorneys who become board certified are evaluated as to their character, ethics and reputation for professionalism in the practice of law. Florida offers 24 specialty areas for board certification, more than any other state. The Florida Bar maintains a free, online directory of board certified lawyers by specialty area and city at FloridaBar.org/certification. About 4,500 of Florida’s 91,000 lawyers have earned board certification.
A lawyer who is a Florida Bar member in good standing and who meets the standards prescribed by the Florida Supreme Court may become board certified in one or more of the 24 certification fields. Minimum requirements for board certification are listed below; each area of certification may contain higher or additional standards.
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Requirements
5 Years
A minimum of five years in law practice.
Involvement
Substantial involvement in the field of law for which board certification is sought.
Peer Review
Satisfactory peer review from other lawyers and judges to assess competence in the specialty field as well as character, ethics and professionalism in the practice of law.
Continuing Legal Education
Please Note: Completion of the board certification area’s continuing legal education requirements.
Passing Exam Grade
A passing grade on the examination required of all applicants or satisfaction of strict criteria to exempt the exam. Board certification is valid for five years, during which time the attorney must continue to practice law and attend Florida Bar-approved continuing legal education courses. Recertification requirements are similar to those for initial certification. Not all qualified lawyers are certified, but those who are board certified have taken the extra step to have their competence and experience evaluated.
